UPDATE: Compass Point Initiates Coverage on Walter Investment Management with Buy Rating, $46 PT

In a report published Wednesday, Compass Point Research & Trading initiated coverage on Walter Investment Management Corp.

with a Buy rating and $46.00 price target. Compass Point noted, “Although these names have had a huge run lately and valuations have been stretched, the longer-term opportunity for the special servicers outweighs the near term volatility that may occur. Each of these names will likely participate in the secular shift away from the traditional servicing model, because (1) there is still a massive backlog of distressed mortgages that need to be cleared, (2) Basel III will limit banks ability to justify keeping large servicing portfolios, and (3) regulatory compliance has become costly and creates operational risk. Ultimately, we believe the residential mortgage servicers present a rare growth story within financials and should continue to show strong returns even though there has been significant recent outperformance in the stocks.” Walter Investment Management Corp. closed on Tuesday at $36.44.